Cenotes are surface
connections to subterranean water bodies. The term
"cenote" is derived from the Yucatec Mayan word "dz'onot"
which refers to any location where ground water is accessible;
most "cenotes" or sink-holes are under ground in caves, many
like the Sacred Cenote of
Chichen Itza are open-air sink holes
with great deep limestone wall reaching many feet in depth.
Most cave cenotes have clear fresh water with great visibility
while open-air cenotes generally have large blue green algae
build up, such algae is rich in nutrients and an excellent
source of minerals, vitamins and proteins that nourish the body
as food and as skin cells protection. Cenotes are vital for
Yucatan's wildlife survival.

As a token of care for Mother Nature,
visitors planning to swim or dive in any cenote in the Yucatan,
should understand that such waterways are the only source of fresh
drinking water in this region, thus they should not use any
repellent, cream, sun-block, or other toxic lotions to avoid
polluting the delicate balance of the cenotes and underground
rivers.

Do not through plastics and other
solid waste in or around any cenote or sinkhole, make sure you help
other visitor understand the importance of care and green living
habits

Ever dream of paradise? You can find it here, at Yokdzonot
Cenote Eco-Park you will find a fresh water sinkhole and an enchanting place, where nature has created the most magical
site to swim amidst the
Maya Jungle
near Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.

A fifteen minute drive from
the lovely green hotel
Hacienda Chichen
Resort and
Chichen Itza, on the free road to Merida,
you will find the town of Yokdzonot. Follow the signs directing traffic to this
Cenote and Ecological Park, a place which eighteen
local Mayan females proudly operate with more faith and hard work than
money.

Elvia and Mirna Mendez welcome tourists and locals alike at the
entrance of the park; the admission fee is less than USD $ 8.00 per person;
services includes optional rental of a life-jacket and visor. The fee helps the women protect,
maintain and enhance the park’s garden and cenote; a few “palapas” house
their little restaurant, kitchen, and public bathrooms. The park has a
eco-friendly waste management system including man-made (shall we say
female-made) wetlands and grease traps to process their waste water.
Yokdzonot Ecological Cenote Park is a true jewel of community
effort, a success story and the pride of all the family members of these
females that stone by stone carry and built this ecological wonder. The
female group is grateful to have the Hacienda Chichenstaff support
and the Maya Foundation In Laakeech’s help.

The project was born from these females desire to give their families
a better future. Tired of waiting for the men of the town to organize
themselves and plan a community tourist endeavor, these
Maya woman took
upon themselves the incredible task of building, planning, and designing
and managing the community property that is truly becoming a lovely eco-park. “It
was very hard,” Marisela recalls, “no-one believed we could do it, the
place was filled with garbage and waste, we took over a year to clean
the land. Then we brought each stone by hand to create the walking
paths, we cut the wood to built the walking fence. We did these things
with almost no money, no pay and with a lot of criticism from the other
village people.” The older member of the group, Dona M. Chac, speaks
mostly in Maya, she smiles pleased with the achieved success. “There
still a lot of work left, the gardens need more wild orchids and native
plants, we are still gathering many of them from the field and placing
them here,” adds Elvia with pride, "We need help to bring tourists, so
they know we are committed to work hard to preserve the
natural beauty of the cenote and to provide the additional services to
enjoy a relaxing visit."

Hacienda Chichen
Guest-Directorand our
Maya Foundation In Laakeech A.C. Board of Trustees, actively promotes the Yodzonot
Cenote Eco-Park to all their guests, while the foundation continues its
marketing aid to this sustainable community project.
Hacienda Chichen is a green-hotel in Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico
and has helped this Maya ladies create a wholesome tasty menu and taught their administrator how to budget
a little
business, keep quality and service on check, and learn to project
cost-gain in an effort to help them succeed in their goals. We are
happy to promote their green living venture.

So far,
these Mayan females are a proud example of what good will and hard work
can bring to a village. Your visit to the site will encourage them,
help their families' economy, and bring a well deserved sense of success. If you go, a donation to support their efforts will be highly
appreciated; if you wish to help them now, please
contact
info@yucatanadventure.com.mx and we can let you know what is
currently needed.

Other social
sustainable ventures that we support are: The
Maya Children's
Nutrition Centers in various small Mayan rural towns in Yucatan,
Mexico, and the public schools of Xcalacoop, near Chichen Itza,
Yucatan, Mexico. In 2010, the Maya Foundation In Laakeech with
the kind support of the Hacienda Chichen and its staff is
reconstructing a public child care center in Xcalacoop, you can help
us help bring a safe, clean, and sanitary facility to the Mayan
toddlers that teacher Blanca Cocom works with,
read more about this
story here.

For family
vacation packages to Chichen Itza,that include day tours to this and other cenotes visitour sponsor’s website:www.chichenservices.com

DID
YOU KNOW: Yucatan's
cenotes
were the main source of fresh water to the Mayans and had a great
significance in their religious believes. Cenotes are sinkholes formed
as natural acidic ground water seeping through the limestone bedrock’s
cracks; thus, the softer rock beneath erodes creating a dome. Over
hundred of years, cenotes normal water flow gets obstructed due to
organic and mineral built-up; then the area becomes a dry shallow basin,
which supports trees and other vegetations’ growth, these dried-stage of
a cenote is known, in Yucatan, as a “Rejoyada” and houses a rich
diversity of flora and fauna.
Yucatan's wildlife: mammals, birds and other reptiles,
butterflies and other creatures find in cenotes and rejoyadas the
perfect habitat.